USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri Volume II > Part 51
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Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Potts, namely : David. Jessie. William F .. James, John and Norris, all living. Norris is a successful physician ; the rest are farmers.
William F. Potts, of this review, remained at home until he was twenty- six years old, and received his education in the common schools. He was married January 1, 1889. to Eva E. Messick, daughter of Harry and Thema Messick, of Andrew county. His wife died April 6. 1896, and on October 24. 1900. he was married to Mrs. Withiow, whose maiden name was Grimes. the daughter of John A. and Rebecca Grimes, of Andrew county. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war, a lieutenant in Company F. Missouri Cavalry.
Mr. Potts first bought fifty-two acres, after his marriage, having farmed rented land previously until he had accumulated sufficient money to make this purchase. They started out in life with only a team of horses. In later years they added to their first purchase until they now have one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. In 1910 they erected a modern, substan- tial and beautiful residence, costing three thousand dollars, which has all the conveniences in use at the present time. This is surrounded by excellent outbuildings, orchard, garden and everything that makes life pleasant in the . country. Mr. Potts is regarded as one of the progressive men of his town- ship and a very successful farmer. In politics he is a Republican and his church relations are with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Seven children constitute Mr. Potts' family. three by his first wife. named as follows: Albert. Henry and Phema : four by his second, Norris. Rosa. Frances and Golda. By her former husband Mrs. Potts is the mother of a daughter. Arnnie. living ; her other daughter. Flossie, lost her life as a result of her clothes taking fire from burning trash.
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of eight children, namely: Ida is the wife of T. L. Howden ; Lulu married Rev. E. L. Robinson ; Minnie married H. D. Cornish : Josie married Abraham Goodpasture ; Anna is the widow of F. M. Campbell; Homer, Ephraim and Tilghman.
Tilghman Medsker received a common school education, and on June I, 1904, was married to Lizzie Beggs, who was born July 24, 1874. the daugh- ter of William and Mary R. Beggs, of this county, a farmer and a native of Indiana. They began their married life at Skidmore. In 1905 Mr. Medsker bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 24, Washington township. He has added to this until he now has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres. on which he now lives, engaged in general farming and stock raising, his place being known as the "East Star farm" and it is one of the desirable and neatly kept places of the township, admired by all who see it. He has an excellent and comfortable dwelling and outbuildings. All this he has made unaided, having started in life with but five hundred dollars, and it is safe to say that few young farmers have made a greater success. All of his im- provements are the best and up-to-date. He has a power and storage house built of metal, and an eight-horse-power gasoline engine, which he uses for grinding feed and many other purposes. He has a newly designed hog house for breeding hogs, which attracts much attention among his neighbors. He devotes special attention to the breeding of hogs and their preparation for the market. He is a member of the school board of his township, and both he and his wife belong to the Methodist church. He is a Republican in politics.
Mr. and Mrs. Medsker are the parents of two children, Leland Leon, born July 8, 1905, and Mary May, born July 10, 1908. Mr. Medsker is a man of kindly disposition, pleasant, honest and thoroughly trustworthy, ac- cording to the large circle of acquaintances which he can claim, and he is admired by all who know him for his uprightness and business integrity.
WILLIAM F. POTTS.
The Potts family is deserving of proper recognition in the history of Nodaway county, for its members have been identified with the growth of the same since the early days of its development, and from that time to the present they have played well their parts in the general progress of this local- ity, especially in connection with the agricultural interests. One of the best
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known of the present generation in Washington township is William F. Potts, who was born March 4, 1860, in this county, the son of William and Rachael (Killion) Potts, both natives of Indiana, the father having been born on November 28, 1823, and the mother in 1830. The paternal grand- father of William F. Potts was born in Indiana and was in the war of 1812. His wife died in Indiana and the family moved to Iowa, and in that state Mr. Potts married a second time. his last wife being a sister of his first one. After remaining in Iowa for six years the family moved to Platte county, Missouri, and after three years came to Nodaway county and bought a farm northwest of Maryville where Mr. Potts engaged in farming until after the death of his second wife, when he went to Arkansas to visit a sister and while there sickness overtook him, resulting in his death.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William Potts, namely : David. Jessie. William F., James, John and Norris, all living. Norris is a successful physician : the rest are farmers.
William F. Potts, of this review, remained at home until he was twenty- six years old, and received his education in the common schools. He was married January 1, 1889, to Eva E. Messick, daughter of Harry and Thema Messick, of Andrew county. His wife died April 6, 1896, and on October 24. 1900. he was married to Mrs. Withrow, whose maiden name was Grimes. the daughter of John A. and Rebecca Grimes, of Andrew county. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war, a lieutenant in Company F. Missouri Cavalry.
Mr. Potts first bought fifty-two acres. after his marriage. having farmed rented land previously until he had accumulated sufficient money to make this purchase. They started out in life with only a team of horses. In later years they added to their first purchase until they now have one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. In 1910 they erected a modern, substan- tial and beautiful residence, costing three thousand dollars, which has all the conveniences in use at the present time. This is surrounded by excellent outbuildings, orchard. garden and everything that makes life pleasant in the . country. Mr. Potts is regarded as one of the progressive men of his town- ship and a very successful farmer. In politics he is a Republican and his church relations are with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Seven children constitute Mr. Potts' family, three by his first wife. named as follows: Albert. Henry and Phema : four by his second, Norris. Rosa. Frances and Golda. By her former husband Mrs. Potts is the mother of a daughter, Arnnie. living : her other daughter. Flossie, lost her life as a result of her clothes taking fire from burning trash.
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E. E. CARVER.
Among the progressive and successful agriculturists of Nodaway county, Missouri, none have attained to a more enviable position than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who, as the proprietor of the Evergreen stock farm, has earned a widespread reputation. As a breeder of thorough- bred Poland-China hogs, he has conferred on the farmers of this locality a definite benefit, having done much to elevate the standard of stock among his fellow agriculturists. He is wide-awake and enterprising and, because of his practical methods and good business ability, he is rightfully numbered among the leading men of his community.
E. E. Carver was born near Freeport, Harrison county. Ohio, on October 22, 1862, and is a son of James and Mariah (Mummy) Carver. These parents were both natives of eastern Ohio, but moved to Guilford, Nodaway county, Missouri, in February, 1868, and where they maintained their home until about 1889. James Carver is now residing at Schuyler. Nebraska, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. While a resident of Nodaway county he took an active interest in the development of its edu- cational and religious advantages, and he is the only surviving member of the first board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church which was built in Guilford in 1870. Of his children, the following are now living: Mrs. O. A. Stewart, of Centralia, Washington; Dim B. Carver, of Aberdeen, Washington, and Elmer E., the immediate subject of this sketch.
After completing his education, which was received in the common schools, Elmer E. Carver gave his attention to assisting his father in the nursery and fruit business until January 1. 1883, when, at his marriage, he rented a farm near Guilford and engaged on his own account in farming and stock raising. Early in life Mr. Carver developed a strong fancy for good livestock, and this fancy has been encouraged and indulged until at the pres- ent time he has attained to a place in the front rank of stock raisers. In 1875 he purchased a pair of Poland-China hogs and until 1885 he continued to raise good stock, though in limited numbers, but in the latter years he branched out and established the Evergreen herd of Poland-China hogs. which has been more extensively shown than any other herd ever in Nodaway county. and which has won over three hundred prizes at county, district and state fairs and expositions, while sales of these hogs have extended over most of the hog-producing states of the Union. Only the largest and finest strains of this breed are used for breeding purposes and at the time the writer visited the herd, several of the breeding animals weighed over seven hundred pounds.
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Mr. Carver's home is one of the most attractive in the county, being located a mile northeast of Guilford, on a fine farm of one hundred and eighty acres. This land is well improved and in a high state of cultivation, one of the most attractive features of the place being the fine orchard of twenty acres, in which are to be found every kind of fruit tree grown in this climate, while in the spacious and well-kept lawn are to be found many beauti- ful trees, rare plants and flowers. In the orchard the only fruit grown for commercial purposes is the apple. In 1892 Mr. Carver formed a partner- ship with J. W. Core for the purpose of handling winter apples, stock cattle and horses, and for a number of years they extensively and successfully engaged in this business. Later C. W. Badger, of Barnard, Missouri, ac- quired Mr. Core's interests and the business was continued until 1906, when Mr. Badger was succeeded by J. L. Ballard, whose large farm adjoins that of Mr. Carver. Ballard & Carver now make a specialty of winter apples. direct from producer to consumer, having distributed the major part of the 1909 crop of the southeastern part of Nodaway county to consumers from Minnesota to Oklahoma, and through their efforts along this line Nodaway county apples have gained a widespread reputation, while at the same time the home growers are assured of a reliable market for all the good fruit they can produce. Mr. Carver has injected into his business affairs an active and vital impulse that has insured success from the start and he has at no time permitted himself to depart from the highest ideals, because of which fact his reputation has been enhanced rather than diminished. He is known as a man of his word and his judgment is considered sound and reliable, his standing among his business associates being the highest.
On January 1, 1883, Mr. Carver was united in marriage with Sarah E. Todd, the daughter of Hugh and Margaret (Beggs) Todd, of Guilford. To this union have been born four children, one son, James H., who is identified with his father in the farm and stock business, and three daughters, Pearl V., Maybird and Mable, are well known and successful school teachers in this county, the two daughters first named being older than the son.
Politically. Mr. Carver is a Republican. to which party he renders a stanch allegiance, though his multitudinous private duties preclude him from aspiring to public office. Religiously, he and his family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a trustee for a number of years. His fraternal relations are with Guilford Lodge. No. 219. Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which also he is a trustee. He is presi- cent of the Guilford Farmers Institute and Corn Show and was one of the founders of the Standard Poland-China Record, being at the present time a
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member of the board of directors. He takes an active interest in the ad- vancement of these worthy organizations and has been an effective and potent force in many ways in developing the resources and interests of the community, being rightfully numbered among its leading and representa- tive citizens. Genial in disposition and kindly in manner, he enjoys a wide acquaintance and has many warm personal friends, who value him because of his genuine worth.
JAMES ALLISON.
From a sturdy Canadian family is descended James Allison, one of the prominent citizens of the eastern part of Nodaway county, he, himself, hav- ing been born in Nassagaweya township. Halton county, province of On- tario, Canada, on March 25, 1836. He is the son of George and Mary (Knight) Allison, the latter born in Scotland and the former in Durham, England. He was reared in Yorkshire, and from there came to Canada with four brothers in a very early day, and they farmed in what is still known as the Allison settlement. The father of James Allison died on the farm on which he first settled, having cleared it of its heavy timber and improved it until he was regarded as the wealthiest man in his township. In his family were three sons and two daughters. During the war of 1812 George Alli- son was compelled to assist the British soldiers search for traitors.
James Allison was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools. He remained in Canada until 1868. He began life by farming one hundred acres which his father gave him, his father having owned three hundred and forty acres. In 1868 he came to Nunica, Michigan, and rented farming land, but remained there only a short time, when he moved to Dakota territory in 1870, pre-empted and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and one hundred and sixty acres respectively. He improved his place and lived there seven years and eight months. Then moved to Crawford county, Iowa, and raised one crop. In March, 1878, he came to Nodaway county, Missouri, and bought a piece of land on which he hauled lumber the second day he was in the county. This was an eighty-acre farm one-half mile south of where he now lives, in western Independence township. He broke the sod. and the next year planted corn. The following winter he sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, and on this he has since made his home. He has put on every improvement and has a good farm and a com- fortable home. In 1890 he sold the north eighty. Of recent years he has
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MR. AND MRS. JAMES ALLISON
NODAWAY COUNTY, MISSOURI. 1089
clevoted considerable attention to raising shorthorn cattle. He has also followed dairying ever since he bought this farm. He has experienced all stages of this business. He first sold butter, then sold milk in cans with glass on the side to measure the depth of the cream; he then sold milk and had skimmed milk returned to him. He now has modern separators and sells his own cream and milk direct. He finds a ready market for his products. He put out a good orchard about 1902, the spring after he came here. He has also been a dealer in horses nearly all his life, dealing especially in draft horses.
Mr. Allison was married on October 9, 1855, to Ann Cleave, who was born February 4, 1837, in Devonshire, England. the daughter of Richard and Grace (Hamlin) Cleave. She came to America in 1849 and located in the same township and county in which Mr. Allison was born. her family being pioneer farmers there, and it was in that community that she and Mr. Allison married. The following children have been born to them: George Edwin, born January 16, 1857; Mary Ann (deceased), born June 20. 1858: John (deceased), born November 9, 1859 : James Milford, born February 28, 1861 ; John Alfred, born December II. 1862; William Orlando, born Septem- ber 17, 1864 ; Levina (deceased), born August 6, 1866; Emma, born Septem- ber 3, 1867: Viola Jane, born January 29, 1870; Anna May (deceased) . born May 24. 1872: Milo Fred, born July 4. 1874: Grace Elizabeth (de- ceased). born December II, 1881.
James Allison is grandfather of thirty-seven children, thirty-five of whom are living, and he is the great-grandfather of one child.
Mrs. Allison is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Allison is inde- pendent in politics, believing in voting for the man rather than the party. He has held the offices of his district a number of times, such as school director and road overseer.
William Orlando Allison, mentioned above, is an extensive fruit grower. in Colorado. He paid six hundred and fifty dollars per acre for land for which he has been offered two thousand dollars per acre. He has about eighteen acres in all. He is a carpenter and contractor and has erected large school buildings and others. For some time he maintained a brick yard. James Allison, his father, has also been interested in fruit raising of all kinds, small and large. He does not engage so extensively in farming as formerly. At one time. in the vicinity of the home place, he had four hundred and forty acres. His sons are all farmers. He gave a team to each of his sons when the latter was twenty-one years old, and has helped them in
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many other ways. His daughter, Anna May, died after rearing four children. Mr. Allison is a very pleasant man to meet, always courteous and kind, honest and obliging, consequently he has hosts of friends.
HUGH G. RICHARDS.
This honored veteran of the Civil war is to be designated as one of the influential and successful citizens of Washington township, having main- tained his home in Nodaway county for many years, figuring as one of the builders of his community, and he is especially worthy of consideration in this work. He has not only by his industry and sound judgment improved a fine farm and gained a competence for his old age, but he has materially assisted in the general welfare of the community, in many ways lending his time and influence in various uplifting movements.
Hugh G. Richards was born August 20, 1839, in McCoupin county. Illinois, the son of Calib D. and Nancy (Gibson) Richards. The father was born in Tennessee in 1818 and died in 1895, and the mother was born in Kentucky in 1819 and died in 1885. They were married in Illinois and came to Andrew county, Missouri, in 1841, there entering land which they improved, building a home on the same. Selling out in 1859, they came to Nodaway county and bought ninety acres of land in section 30, ten acres of which was timbered. Here he also built a home and began improving the place and engaged in general farming, being very successful. Mr. and Mrs. Calib D. Richards were members of the Presbyterian church, and, politically. Mr. Richards was a Democrat. They were the parents of five children : Hugh G., Margaret J. and Edward H. are living: Sarah A. and Elizabeth are deceased.
Hugh G. Richards spent his boyhood days on the farm and received a common school education. He was married on November 23, 1865, to Adaline Gilmore, daughter of James and Emily Gilmore. Her parents came to this county in 1865 and engaged in farming. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Richards moved to Gentry county, where he remained four years, then returned to Nodaway county and bought his father's farm, which had been sold in the meantime. He devoted his attention exclusively to farming and stock raising, keeping the best grade of stock on his place.
Mr. Richards proved his patriotism in 1862 by enlisting in the Fortieth Regiment Iowa Infantry, in which he served with a very creditable record
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until the close of the war, having enlisted as a private and he was mustered out as sergeant-major, his promotion having been well earned. His record attracted the attention of higher officials and he was appointed adjutant by E. M. Stanton, Lincoln's secretary of war, and he is now remembered by his government with a pension of fifteen dollars per month.
Mr. Richards was a teacher in the public schools for a number of years. and very ably served as justice of the peace for his township for twelve years, also filling the office of township clerk. On his farm of two hundred and fourteen acres he has made many substantial improvements and has one of the choice farms of the county, maintaining it under a high state of culti- vation.
Mrs. Richards died on January 31. 1899. and is buried at Guilford. Mr. Richards is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richards, named as follows : Milton S., born in 1866; Edmund G., born in 1868: Alice A. is the wife of D. A. Bledsoe ; Laura M. was born in October, 1871, and died July 8. 1905 : Emma E., born in 1875, died in 1900; Nancy was born in 1880. died in 1904: one child died in infancy. The following children were born to Milton S. Richards and wife: Leland P .. Roland E., Cleo, Bernard N .. Zora E. and Ada. The following children have been born to Mrs. Alice Bledsoe: Zora May, Hobart. Hugh R .. Truman, Gladys, Leslie and Harvie.
SEAMAN J. SCHRADER.
.No farmer in Grant township. Nodaway county, seems to understand more thoroughly the science of modern agriculture than Seaman J. Schrader. who was born in Piatt county, Illinois, in August. 1862. He is the son of Peter and Celestine (Magett) Schrader, the father a native of Luxemburg. Germany, born there in 1819. The mother was born in France in 1827 and she died at Conception, on June 4. 1910, at the age of eighty-three years. Peter Schrader came to America in 1857 and remained two years, during which time he worked as a farm hand, earning money to return to his native land. He came to America a second time and located with his wife and two children on a farm in Piatt county. Illinois. He rented land for seven years. then came to Nodaway county, Missouri, in 1866, having made the trip in a covered wagon, and located on an eighty-acre farm, northeast of Mary-
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ville, which he bought from Benjamin Torrance. It was unimproved. He purchased a log cabin of Edward Bicket and moved it on the farm. He was offered eighty acres of land by a neighbor for a stray dog which followed them here, but did not take it. He improved his place here and remained on it the rest of his life, dying in February, 1886, at the age of sixty-seven years. The farm was sold and Mrs. Schrader lived in Maryville for a few years, but she subsequently made her home with her daughter at Conception. Her three daughters are nuns at that place. the oldest being known as Rev. John, mother of the Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration Academy for Girls. The second eldest is Sister Mary Agatha, mother of the Industrial School for Girls, and Sister Mary Innocence, of the convent.
.Seaman J. Schrader, of this review, received a common school educa- tion and grew to maturity on the home place. On October 3. 1895, he mar- ried Jennie Shea, daughter of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Shea. Jeremiah Shea was born in 1828, died September 24. 1894: his wife was born in 1826, died March 5. 1890. These parents were natives of Ireland, born in county Kerry. and they emigrated to this country about 1848, both coming about the same time. They located in Indianapolis. Indiana, and in 1858 removed to St. Joseph, Missouri, and it was here in 1861 that the parents of Mrs Schrader were married. In 1863 they went to Colorado in a wagon and in 1865 returned to St. Joseph. In 1867 they moved to Nodaway county, and located in section 5. Grant township. Mr. Shea buying a farm here of one hundred and sixty acres. He was a very successful farmer. Both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church at Conception; he was a Demo- crat, and they were the parents of three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Schrader began their married life on her father's farm, of which she heired a part and they have bought the other interests and now own and operate. the entire place, having made some substantial im- provements on the same, keeping the farm in first-class order, there being no better place in the community. He is a breeder of Polled-Angus cattle and has a very creditable dairy business. He is a Democrat in politics, and both are members of the Catholic church at Conception. They are well posted on the current topics of the day, kind and hospitable, but plain and unassuming, not aspiring for social or public honors. His neighbors regard his word as good as a note.
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